Blue Hole Hit

[pants!]

No.

There is a 130' limit on the cheapest plan, but not the other two.

http://diversalertnetwork.org/insurance/compare.asp

 

[pilot fish]

Back about three years ago our local diving magazine "Northwest Dive News" published an article written by a gentleman who had just returned from a visit to the Blue Hole. In the article he describes his experiences of going to 150 feet on his 30th dive since OW certification ... which was mostly accidental because the DM's had only planned to go to 120 feet, but he wasn't paying attention and went deeper. He described how the DM's had planned for "decompression" by suspending cylinders at 20 feet for divers to breathe off of after their cylinders ran out of air ... and how "thank goodness there was more than one regulator on those tanks" because so many divers ran out of air and had to be escorted to the hang tanks by a DM. He also described how "anyone can do this" and used as an example, one woman on his boat who had previously only logged her obligatory 5 OW certification dives.

He thought this was the coolest experience in the world, and gave kudos to the dive operation for a great time.

Fortunately, Darwin wasn't on duty that day ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Are those Darwins retroactive?

 

[pilot fish]

I could be wrong here, but when I read PF's original post, my take was that with the AOW, you usually get the deep dive cert, so you would understand it's much more involved that diving 60'.

I've been to 70' a couple of times, and was uncomfortable only because "am I not going to do something right during ascent." I've not had any problems as long as I stay with the NDL. But a couple of guys I dove with wanted to do 100' and I begged off.

The certification is irrelevant in itself. If an OW diver on that boat had 200 dives, and never was below 70ft, IMHO, they are crazy to go to 130ft and depend on the DM's guidance. Man....if we were talking cenotes here, people would be all over you! I know from experience....

I'll take the training and make sure that I know what I'm doing, prior to making that venture. Alot of people think I'm crazy already....no sense proving them correct!

Jack

Yes, my point was that you SHOULD have deep dives as part of your AOW cert and at least be comfortable with depth. One reason I think AOW right after, and during OW cert, can you imagine?, is foolhardy because you have the instructor holding your hand on those deep dives. Again, I don't care what your cert is, nothing beats experience.

 

[SueMermaid]

That's the type of story that scares me. I really think the Dive Op that encouraged you to do the dive would bear some responsibility if you had gotten hurt. Thank God you were ok.

What happended to the diver out of air at 110ft?

Another diver with our group donated his alternate to her, and she was fine, she was able to come up very slowly. She didn't run totally dry, she noticed her air was down around 100 psi.

 

[dscheck]

I don't mean to stir up a hornets nest, but this point of the dive operator being responsible and/or liable has been beaten to death. I for one want to be responsible for my own actions. I do not want an agency and/or government regulating what I can and cannot do (wihtin reason).

When we start pushing the responsibility/liability of our actions into the hands of agencies and governments, legislation is not far away.

Now who here on this board wants our sport to be regulated by legislation?

I would rather dive by the guidelines developed.

My right to ride a motorcyle without a helmet, drive a car without a seatbelt, use a cell phone in a car, etc... has been taken away from me by special interest lobbyists, governments and liability lawsuits that believe they know whats best for me, but they do not.

Remember Dive agencies suggest limits, they do not require them.

 

[pilot fish]

Another diver with our group donated his alternate to her, and she was fine, she was able to come up very slowly. She didn't run totally dry, she noticed her air was down around 100 psi.

A 100 psi? eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

You are a brave lady for doing that 130 ft on you 12th dive. Not sure I would have done that, although I had some beautiful, experienced lady take me to 100 ft on my 12th dive.

 

[pilot fish]

I don't mean to stir up a hornets nest, but this point of the dive operator being responsible and/or liable has been beaten to death. I for one want to be responsible for my own actions. I do not want an agency and/or government regulating what I can and cannot do (wihtin reason).

When we start pushing the responsibility/liability of our actions into the hands of agencies and governments, legislation is not far away.

Now who here on this board wants our sport to be regulated by legislation?

I would rather dive by the guidelines developed.

My right to ride a motorcyle without a helmet, drive a car without a seatbelt, use a cell phone in a car, etc... has been taken away from me by special interest lobbyists, governments and liability lawsuits that believe they know whats best for me, but they do not.

Remember Dive agencies suggest limits, they do not require them.

While I agree with you in therory, I do think a Dive Op should at least, at the very least, say to an inexperienced diver, after looking at their log, I'm not sure this dive is good for you yet.

 

[SueMermaid]

A 100 psi? eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek.

You are a brave lady for doing that 130 ft on you 12th dive. Not sure I would have done that, although I had some beautiful, experienced lady take me to 100 ft on my 12th dive.

Brave? No. Stupid? Yes.

 

[pilot fish]

Brave? No. Stupid? Yes.

Yeah, it's no place for a new diver. You weren't stupid. You just listened to bad advice, as we all have, at one time or another.

 

[ScubaBabe22]

Hi!
I couldnt help noticing your post! I am an AOW, and have only been diving in Belize (I live in NY, and Lake George is not my idea of fun...yet...) (I dive with Alozo Flota, (Under Da Sea,m located at El Pescador! look him up and dive with him! Great, fun, friendly, sense of humor-i got a sardine thrown on me while we were changing tanks-and safe) whenever I am down there and my parents and I have asked him about the Blue Hole. He responded that a lot of it depends on the divers maturity and comfortablity level with the water. E.g. He said my Dad (previously certified b/c he was a engineer with the army) and I (just love water and diving) would be okey to go, but my mom, because she is uncomfortable and has trouble equalizing would need more expeirence! I've got abt 30 dives and my mom a few less, but he said it really depened on the diver. I'm not sure who took the tour out, but depending on the operator, it would mean that they just wanted money. I've seen some of the less reputable operate in Ambergeis!
Hope this helps!!
Elena
P.S. If anyone is down in Placentia for diving, use Advanced tours (funny, friendly guys!)...Roberts Grove was the WORST experience ever!